laid

ETHIOPIA: Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn laid a ceremonial foundation stone for the Mek’ele – Weldiya/Hara Gebeya railway project on February 18.

The 220 km electrified mixed-traffic route is being built by China Communications Construction Co under a US$1·5bn contract. At Weldiya it will connect with future lines south to Awash and east to the new port of Tadjoura in neighbouring Djibouti, providing Ethiopia with a second outlet to the sea.

Guests at the ceremony included President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud of Somalia. Hailemariam said the railway project ‘is very significant both socially and economically’, and would intensify progress towards regional integration in the Horn of Africa.

A protocol on power supplies for cross-border railways has been signed by Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Thousands of mourners have paid their final respects to Ethiopia’s former leader Meles Zenawi, who died last month after 21 years in power. Meles had overseen strong economic growth in recent years, but was criticized for clamping down on individual freedoms. Al Jazeera’s Mohammad Adow reports from Addis Ababa. Source, credit to Aljazeera- www.aljazeera.com FAIR USE NOTICE: This video has been posted to further advance our understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, Technological, democratic, scientific, and social justice issues which constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 USC Section 107 for research and educational purposes.

keep your memories alive

Foundation stone laid for northern Ethiopia line

Ethiopia’s former leader Meles Zenawi funeral